Vandoorne hopes to keep his hand in

Stoffel Vandoorne is hoping that a new Mercedes simulator role could lead to a future Formula 1 return.

The 26-year-old was axed by McLaren at the end of the 2018 season to be replaced by Lando Norris who will drive alongside Carlos Sainz Jr at the Woking-based marque.

In two full seasons with McLaren, the Belgian driver managed seven top-10 finishes and earned 25 points - finishing 16th in both 2017 and this year.

He may have lost his seat but Mercedes offered the 2015 ART Grand Prix champion a role in the simulator, while he will also race for the Mercedes-supported HWA Racelab Formula E squad this season.

Vandoorne is excited and feels it is a great way to keep his name known.

"It’s definitely good to keep involved in the world because you never know what happens in the future," he told Formula1.com. "I think to be involved with Mercedes and to perform the work for them, it’s good that they will know exactly what I’m capable of doing.

"And we don’t know what the driver market is going to do in the future."

This article originated on sportinastorm.com

Neil Foster is an experienced journalist who specialises in cricket and rugby union. Neil also has a solid knowledge of tennis, golf and football.